By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Veteran Indian politician Sitaram Yechury has passed away at the age of 72 while undergoing treatment for a lung infection in New Delhi on Thursday.
Yechury was a key opposition figure and served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Party leader Hannan Mollah said he was receiving treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
The hospital said he was admitted on Aug 19 with pneumonia and passed away on Thursday afternoon.
Various political parties and their leaders paid glowing tributes to him, lauding his contribution to debates on major issues.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament, remembered Yechury as "a protector of the idea of India with a deep understanding of our country."
Yechury played a role in opposition unity efforts.
"His years of service and devotion to our country (are) worthy of the greatest respect. Most of all, he was an inherently decent human being who brought a sense of balance and gentleness to the harsh world of politics," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a key member of the main opposition Congress.
Born in Chennai in 1952, he led an active life in Delhi's politics and often attended conferences and public events in the city.
The veteran politician's rivals also remembered him for his friendly conduct.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said Yechuri was pleasant in his interactions with him despite their political ideologies being different.
He is survived by his journalist wife Seema Chishti, a son and a daughter.
-- BERNAMA
